This is the most common cause for a jet ski to sink. Carbon seal may be the issue but it would be noticeable with cavitation.
The forward two have drain plugs that drain into the bilge below and the bilge pump with a hole in the sole around it in the 3rd most aft bay which lets the water reach the pump.
Boat taking on water in engine compartment. Water in the engine compartment normal. Water in the bilge is only normal if your boat has a leak. If your boat is sound and in good repair your bilge will be dry every time you take it out.
There is an exception for boats that do water sports like skiing and tubing and such where theres wet people climbing in and out of the boat. We just attempted to get our boat in the harbor today and shortly after turning on the engine. The bilge started pumping more water out than we have ever seem before.
We checked the engine compartment and there seemed to be a leak underneath the engine - but couldnt see exactly where the water was spewing from. There are three bays in the engine compartment. The forward two have drain plugs that drain into the bilge below and the bilge pump with a hole in the sole around it in the 3rd most aft bay which lets the water reach the pump.
Normally on the water trailer and lift the area below the ski locker drain will hold the most water. Boat took on water flooding the engine compartment covering half of the engine under water. After that there was no power to any of the electricselectronics.
I discovered that both battery cables got burned out aparently they grounded and they burned. I had an electrician at my work test the battery selector switch it is good. Its in great condition but when I put it in the water for the first time when buying it it seems to take on excessive water in the engine compartment and all the way up to the middle ballast compartment.
I made sure that I had all the plugs in before I launched but it still was taking on too much water. Water tends to collect in the middle of the boat as it is a lower point than the engine. You stop and get everyone to the rear and the water shifts to the engine compartment.
If you only pull the rear plug you are not going to get all the water out especially if sitting level on the trailer. The bottom of my bilge pump is well below the bottom of my stringer. All the water is touching really is the botom of the bilge.
All of my water is getting in via boat washes hard sprays that overflow the channels and cause water to enter the bilge. Im not worrying too much about a little water at the bottom of the bilge. Two days ago my 2007 speedster with the 215hp went under at the dock.
I pressed the bilge pump switch and the water started to pump out to where boat was emptied. But engine went under in salt water. Got boat on trailer and washed the entire engine and compartment with fresh water.
Pulled the plugs and found water in cylinders. Not getting the drain plug in tight enough. Water coming into the transom splashwell and getting into the bilge area from quickly coming off plane or having a guy sitting on the back pedestal seat for a few hours.
And coming up on plane with a full front livewell water will overflow and run into the bilge. Chaulk your trailer wheels and raise the bow of the boat up as high as possible. Install your boats drain plug and start filling the bilge with fresh water.
Carefully monitor the level of that water as so it doesnt get too high. Avoid letting it get up to the starter motor. Stand behid the boat and look for water dripping out.
Water can also leak into the bilge from a leak on the engine. Hello everyone Just purchased my first jet ski recently a 1996 Polaris SLXIt seems to be running fine so far. My only concern is that when we take it out on the lake water gets into the engine compartment.
I took it out for about an hour and there was water almost covering the top of the bilge pump. I planned on keeping it at a friends boat slip in a marina but dont know. If the water is warm like bath water then its coming from the cooling circuit.
The cooling line is a black flexible rubber hose that is wrapped in a wire loom. It comes from the front of the motor lays along the engine bay floor and follows down through the transom to a 90 plastic fitting just above the jet pump. The way it work it take water from the back of the boat and send it thru rubber pipe to your engine and exhaust system to cool it so it you have a leak somewhere in this system water will get in engine compartment and fill it faster then the bilge pump can pump.
Being stuck out in the water with no boats around we managed to to tip it over and my gf used her tiny hands to get the rope unwrapped around the impeller. Took her 30 minutes but when we were done. The ski wouldnt start.
So we waited awhile and then opened the engine compartment cover to find the thing filled with water. My yamaha wave runner 3 takes on water in the engine compartment when I go around once on a small lake 3 mins no visible cracks in the hull dosnt take on water when its not running dosnt leak the water out when engine compartment is full and out of waterso let me know im stumped thanx rob. Carbon seal may be the issue but it would be noticeable with cavitation.
I would get the boat in the water and open the ski locker and engine compartment and poke around till you find it. Like someone else said when the boat is on plane the water is going back to the engine compartment where it is pumped out. There are a couple of cooling water lines coming out on either side of the cylinder head on top of the engine.
Check for water leaking at all the fittings. If you rev the engine up you should see some water squiring out the right side of the boat out of the pee holes. The plug at the back of your center pod IS your bilge aka engine compartment.
Pull your engine hatch when you are in the water and look closely at the transom back wall. You may be able to see water coming in if it is a bellows issue. Trimming in motor down will lower your bow.
Trimming out motor up will raise it to a point. This is a boat that came in with the owner stating it was taking on water The splash well drain plugs were cracked and leaking water to the inside of the tr. Slow the flow.
Once youve taken the measures outlined in steps 1 to 4 take some time to slow the flow of the leak. If its located on the port side transfer your crew and any movable gear to starboard side. Trimming may not necessarily push the leak above water level but it will certainly slow the flow to an extent as the leak will be.
If youre fed up with the excessive noise on your boat consider insulating the engine compartment. A boats engine is the number one cause of noise and as you know there is no shortage of noise while boating 2. Wind noise and 3.
5 Common Reasons Jet Skis Take on Water. There are several main reasons that could cause a jet ski to take on water and most of them have to do with mistakes made by the operator of the craft often before the jet ski ever goes into the water. Missing or Damaged Drain Plugs.
This is the most common cause for a jet ski to sink. Even a boat sitting on a trailer in the driveway can take on water if it rains. For this reason you should have a bilge pump or drain hole and plug.
These devices allow you to remove the water that collects in the bilge and can help maintain stability and the integrity of your vessel while out on the water.